Back in March when the mandatory training for Class 1 commercial semi drivers came into effect, there was a temporary exemption for farmers, but that is changing. Originally, drivers could get an ‘F’ endorsement on their existing licence by passing the Class 1 tests, but as of March 1st of next year, anyone wanting the ‘F’ endorsement will have to take 40 hours of commercial driver training. The driver can only drive a farm semi within 100 kilometres of home, and within Saskatchewan’s borders.

Then, March 1st of 2021, the ‘F’ endorsement will be eliminated and anyone wanting to drive a semi will require a Class 1 driver’s licence which includes the full 121-and-a-half hours of mandatory training. Those who previously took the 40 hours of training will be given credit for those hours and anyone who received their Class 1 licence before mandatory semi training was implemented will be grandfathered in, and will be allowed to continue to drive a semi.

Minister responsible for SGI, Joe Hargrave says the province consulted with the farm sector on the impacts mandatory training would have and the majority of farmers and ranchers agreed that training was necessary to improve road safety.